ethanol at a glance
Medicine class
Neurolytic agent and toxic-alcohol antidote
Administration
Given only by specialist healthcare professionals near a nerve or into a vein
Driving
It can impair judgement and coordination; follow the treatment team's instructions about driving and machinery
What is ethanol used for?
The selected UK licence covers specialist hospital treatment.
Injection close to a nerve for severe or chronic pain, including trigeminal neuralgia
Intravenous antidotal treatment for acute methanol poisoning
How does ethanol work?
Near a nerve, ethanol disrupts nerve tissue and reduces sodium and potassium conductance, interrupting pain-signal transmission for a prolonged or potentially permanent effect. In methanol poisoning, it competes for alcohol dehydrogenase and reduces formation of toxic methanol metabolites.
How to take ethanol
This treatment is not self-administered. For pain procedures, a specialist injects it close to the selected nerve or ganglion, normally using imaging to confirm needle position. For methanol poisoning, a prepared solution is administered intravenously with close hospital monitoring.
Tell the team about allergies, pregnancy or breastfeeding, liver disease, peptic ulcer disease and all medicines taken.
For nerve procedures, report infection near the planned site and use of anticoagulant or antiplatelet medicines.
Do not drive or operate machinery after treatment until the clinical team says it is safe.
ethanol side effects
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe allergic reaction with breathing or swallowing difficulty, rash, or facial or throat swelling
- Marked drowsiness, loss of consciousness, coma or respiratory depression
- Hypoglycaemia, particularly in children
- Severe blood-pressure disturbance or cardiovascular collapse
- Procedure-related nerve damage, severe weakness, bleeding, infection or loss of bladder or bowel control
ethanol in pregnancy
Ethanol crosses the placenta. The selected product information states that the small quantity used for a nerve block is extremely unlikely to affect the fetus, while significant methanol poisoning presents a greater fetal risk than appropriate treatment. Use during pregnancy requires specialist assessment.
ethanol while breastfeeding
Ethanol enters breast milk at concentrations slightly below those in blood. The prescriber should assess expected systemic exposure, treatment urgency and potential risk before use while breastfeeding.
ethanol interactions
Clinicians should review all prescribed, non-prescribed and recreational substances because ethanol has broad pharmacodynamic interactions.
Opioids, sedatives, hypnotics and tranquillisers
May increase sedation, impaired coordination and respiratory depression.
Sedating antihistamines, muscle relaxants, antiepileptics and antidepressants
May intensify central nervous system depression and impaired judgement.
Insulin and sulfonylureas
May increase the risk of hypoglycaemia.
Common questions about ethanol
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is ethanol injection the same as drinking alcohol?
No. It is a sterile, concentrated hospital preparation administered by specialists; beverages and topical alcohol products are not substitutes.
Why is ethanol injected near a nerve?
It deliberately disrupts the nerve and interrupts pain-signal transmission, potentially producing prolonged or permanent pain relief and numbness.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.